Milestones

Established in 1857 in the tiny village of Pilani, Rajasthan, the Aditya Birla Group took shape when Seth Shiv Narayan Birla ventured into cotton trading. Today, with operations across 35 countries, and revenues of US$44.3 billion, the Group is a leading player in aluminium, cement manufacturing, viscose staple fibre, chemicals, copper, insurance services, telecom, branded apparels, fertilisers, software, viscose staple yarn, carbon black and insulators. We trace the highlights of this remarkable journey, starting from the present:

Aditya Birla Nuvo merges with Grasim to create a large combination of manufacturing and service businesses commanding leadership positions across cement, financial services, telecom, textiles and chemicals sectors.

CSR

Birla Cellulose is ranked Number one globally, for its work on the conservation of ancient and endangered forests, by the NGO Canopy in its Hot Button Report.

Awards

2016

Business

Novelis was recently recognised among the best companies in Brazil by Época magazine. The special edition of the magazine, called Época Negócios 360°, ranked Novelis in the top five in four categories – HR practices, innovation, vision of the future and social responsibility.

Novelis was named a Top Supplier in 2015 by both Automotive News’ Global and North American lists for supplying flat-rolled aluminium sheets for multiple automotive applications, including vehicle structures and body panels.

AV Cell and AV Nackawic (Pulp & Fibre business) have emerged among the top 25 employers.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2015-2016 by the Ladies’ Wing of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber Awards

Awards

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla named the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA).

Indian Rayon, a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo, bagged the coveted Asian CSR Award in the category of poverty alleviation.

abof.com emerges as the winner in the top 5 impactful debut brands category.

abof.com wins Customer Intimacy and Service Excellence Company of the Year 2016 at the 10th Express Logistics & Supply Chain Awards.

Aditya Birla Retail Limited won the ‘hypermarket chain of the year’ award at the Images Retail Awards for the second year in a row.

Aditya Birla Financial Services Group (ABFSG) received a Certificate of Achievement from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the category of ‘Excellence in Developing Leaders of Tomorrow’.

Thai Rayon’s plant at Saraburi received an overwhelming applause from the Thailand Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for its outstanding performance in safety.

General Motors won the 2016 Altair Enlighten Award for Innovation in Automotive Vehicle Lightweighting for the Cadillac CT6. The automobile, which achieved 220lb in weight savings, is 62 per cent aluminium, and this has been supplied by Novelis North America and Novelis Asia.

Birla Carbon is credited for publishing ‘Asia’s Most Transparent Report’ and ‘Asia’s Best Materiality Report’. Birla Carbon also received commendation certificates for ‘Asia’s Best Supply Chain Reporting’, ‘Asia’s Best Community Reporting’ and ‘Asia’s Best Environment Reporting’ at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards, organised by CSRWorks Events, an arm of CSRWorks International.

Idea Cellular wins three awards at the Effies — 2 gold and a silver — Gold in the Services category (Telecom) for 'No Ullu Banaoing', Gold For Best Ongoing Campaign – 'An Idea can change your life' and Silver in the category – Integrated Advertising Campaign (for a 360 approach on the campaign across all media). It also won ET Telecom Award for the Best Marketing Campaign of the year for “No Ullu Banaoing”.

Idea Cellular wins award in 'Analytics' category for the implementation of end-to-end Campaign Management solution at Business Technology IT Awards.

Aditya Birla Financial Services wins CIO Impact Award 2015 from Frost & Sullivan USA and Best in Class – Cloud Computing category for 2015; wins two Midas Awards 2014; Silver at Emvies from the Advertising Club, India; three Bronze medals at Goafest Creative & Media Abby Awards; two Bronze and one Silver at DMAi Award and Silver for its marketing campaign at Effies.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund wins Morningstar Award 2015 for the ‘Best Fund House – Debt' and 'Best Intermediate Bond Fund'; the Asset Management – House of the Year at Money Today, FPCIL Awards.

2014

Business

Aditya Birla Group is ranked number 1 in the Nielsen Corporate Image Monitor 2013-14, for the second year in a row, across the six pillars of corporate performance – products and services, vision and leadership, workplace environment, financial performance, operating style and social responsibility.

Mergers and Acquisitions

The Board of Directors of UltraTech Cement, the largest cement company in India, approves the acquisition of cement units of Jaiprakash Associates Limited in Madhya Pradesh in December. The enterprise value of this acquisition was agreed at Rs.5,400 crore.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla receives the 'Exceptional Leader – Social and Rural Development' award from the ASSOCHAM Ladies League

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team at Grasim Industries Limited (Grasim), a global leader in viscose staple fibre manufacturing, wins the first 'CSR Activist of the Year Award' instituted by the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries for its work in uplifting the marginalised.

Vikram Woollens, a unit of Grasim Industries Limited, is named the overall winner at the 'Amity CSR Conclave 2013'.

Novelis, a leading producer of rolled aluminium, is honoured with Industry Leadership award - Aluminum at Platts Global Metals Awards 2014. The award recognises Novelis' decisive action to transform its business, demonstrated leadership as a first-mover and willingness to take risks by making fundamental changes in the way it operates.

Dr. Santrupt Misra is awarded 'Global Leader of the Year' at the CEO India awards 2014.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) bestows the 'AMCHAM Award' on the Aditya Birla Knowledge Centre, the first centre of its kind set up by the Group in South East Asia to provide community service through vocational training.

Novelis is awarded the 'Climate Leadership Award' by the US Environmental Protection Agency for exemplary leadership in reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change.

Aditya Birla Financial Services (ABFS), one of India’s reputed non-banking financial companies, is given the 'Excellence Award' by the Institute of Internal Auditors India – Bombay Chapter, for use of the most innovative processes in conducting branch internal audit.

Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company is recognised as the 'Most Admired AMC of the Year' in the BFSI Category by Star of India Awards.

ABFS wins the 'Best Marketing Campaign Birla Sun Life Insurance' at the Effies, the Indian chapter of Effies International, which recognises marketing campaigns for their effectiveness in the market.

ABFS wins four Gold Midas awards between Birla Sun Life Insurance, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund and Aditya Birla Money at the Midas Awards, New York, the only international platform that recognises excellence in financial advertising and marketing. The company's insurance business bags the Grand Midas at the event.

more.Megastore is chosen as the winner under the 'Food & Grocery Retailer' category - 'Images Most Admired Food & Grocery Retailer of the Year, Large Format' at the 7th edition of the Coca Cola Golden Spoon Awards 2014.

2013

Business

Aditya Birla Group tops Nielsen's Corporate Image Monitor 2012-13 that measures the reputation of 40 leading corporates in the country across sectors. The Group emerged 'Best in Class' across the six pillars of corporate image comprising product and service quality, vision and leadership, workplace management, financial performance, operating style and social responsibility.

The Government of India releases a commemorative postage stamp honouring the visionary Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla as India's 'First Global Industrialist'. The special stamp is released by the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 14th January.

The chlor-alkali and phosphoric acid divisions of Solaris Chemtech Industries are acquired by the Aditya Birla Group through ABCIL in May. The acquisition makes ABCIL the largest producer of chlor-alkali in India.

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is conferred with the Giants International 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in April.

Awards

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is chosen 'Business Leader of the Year' at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2012-13, becoming, in the process, the first corporate leader to win the award twice in 10 years. His previous win was in 2003.

Aditya Birla Nuvo's Indo Gulf wins the Platinum Award for Excellence in Manufacturing Processes in the Medium Business Sector at the Economic Times India Manufacturing Excellence Awards (IMEA).

UltraTech Cement wins three awards at the Economic Times India Manufacturing Excellence Awards (IMEA) — Vikram Cement Works (Khor) won the Gold award; Rawan Cement Works (Raipur) bagged the Gold Certificate of Merit; and Awarpur Cement Works (Maharashtra) received the Silver Certificate of Merit.

ABFS receives the Bronze award at the International ECHO Awards 2012 in Las Vegas – equivalent to the Oscars of Direct Marketing – and a Gold, Silver and Merit certificate at the Midas Awards 2012, New York. The Midas Awards honours the world's best financial marketing and advertising campaigns. The company also wins a Bronze at Effie 2012 for its effective marketing campaign. ABFS wins the Silver award at the Emvies 2012. The Emvies honour measurable and significant contributions in the field of Indian media.

For the second year in a row, Idea wins the 'The Best Brand Campaign' award at the World Communications Awards 2012 in London for its 'Population Control' (3G pe busy) campaign. The same campaign wins Gold at APPIES 2012 in Singapore.

The mobile number portability campaign - No Idea, Get Idea - wins the award for 'Excellence in Marketing' at the Economic Times Telecom Awards 2012.

Aditya Birla Minacs wins Bronze in the 'Most Customer Friendly Company of the Year' category at the Best in Biz awards from among more than 400 companies from nearly every major industry.

For the second time in a row, Aditya Birla Minacs' finance and accounting team wins the Asian Leadership Award for 'Quality and Operations Excellence' for its innovative Q-Score Model.

'Asian Centre Awards 2012 – Awards for Corporate Governance, Sustainability & Leadership' commends the Aditya Birla Group as the 'Company with Best CSR and Sustainability Practices'.

2012

Business

Aditya Birla Group makes a financial investment of 27.5 per cent in Living Media India Limited (India Today Group) through a private investment company in May.

Aditya Birla Group is at the top of the league among 'most loved companies' at the 11th edition of Business Today's Best Companies survey. The survey, conducted online by Indicus Analytics from 6 September to 14 November, 2011, drew 6,176 responses from 323 cities. More than 80 per cent of the respondents were between 24 and 35 years of age.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires Terrace Bay Pulp Mill in North Western Ontario in July 2012. Terrace Bay is considered an anchor mill due to its location and its significant consumption of residual chips produced by regional sawmills.

Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited (ABNL), largest manufacturer of linen fabric in India, acquires Future Group's Pantaloon format, a part of Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited (PRIL). The acquisition is in line with the Group's strategic intent to create the largest integrated branded fashion player in the country.

Awards

Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is honoured with the 'NASSCOM Global Business Leader Award, 2012' at the NASSCOM India-Global Leadership Forum held in Mumbai.

The Asian Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability bestowed the 'Transformational Leader Award' upon Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla in recognition of his extraordinary contribution towards setting up corporate governance standards in India, for authoring the first ever SEBI-initiated Corporate Governance Report in India and for benchmarkable governance standards in the Aditya Birla Group companies.

Aditya Birla Group wins the Economic Times Corporate Citizen Award — 2011-12. The award honours the contribution to public good through commitment to critical social causes that influence the lives of thousands of needy Indians. The Group had won this coveted award for the first time in 2002.

Novelis is accorded with the American Metal Market Environmental Responsibility and Stewardship Award 2012; three European Aluminium Awards for Innovation at the world's biggest Aluminium Trade Show; a Jury Prize for the Titanic Belfast aluminium facade panels; and a Special Prize, Surface Treatment for its anti-graffiti aluminium surface – Clearky 105.

The Novelis Global Automotive team receives a Special Prize, rolling, for its three-piece tailored welded blank for Mercedes SL.

The Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital is received recognition for 'Performance/Excellence Trophy for its Compassionate Quality Healthcare' by the Indian Merchant Chambers' Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Awards Committee in Mumbai, India.

Birla White, a division of UltraTech Cement – the largest cement company in India, is presented with the ASSOCHAM CSR Excellence Award.

CNBC TV18, one of the top business TV Channels in India, chooses the deal between the Aditya Birla Group and Columbian Chemicals as the 'Best deal in the M&A category'.

2011

Business

Aditya Birla Group is ranked No.4 in the list of global top companies for leaders and No.1 in Asia Pacific for 2011 in a study conducted by Aon Hewitt, Fortune magazine and RBL, a strategic HR and leadership advisory firm.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires Domsjö Fabriker, a leading Swedish speciality pulp and biorefinery company. Domsjö, with its cutting-edge technology and production process coupled with a state-of-the-art biorefinery, adds significant value to the Group's pulp and fibre operations.

ABCIL acquires the Chloro Chemicals Division (CCD) of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Limited in April. The acquisition strengthens Aditya Birla Group's position as the country's largest producer of chlor-alkali.

CSR

The Government of India bestowed the Padma Bhushan Award on Mrs. Rajashree Birla for her exemplary contribution in the area of social work. The Padma Bhushan is among the highest civilian awards in India and was bestowed upon Mrs. Birla at a special ceremony on 1 April.

The 'Corporate Citizen of the Year' award is presented to the Aditya Birla Group by the Public Relations Council of India for "its work amidst the rural poor in the country and for setting a fine example for other corporates". Mrs. Rajashree Birla receives the award from Mr. H. K. Dua, Member of Parliament and one of the most distinguished editors of the country.

2010

Business

Mergers and Acquisitions

UltraTech Cement acquires a majority stake and management control in Dubai-based Star Cement Company, LLC (Star Cement). Star Cement owns cement plants in UAE, Bahrain and Bangladesh with a total capacity of three million tonnes annually. This acquisition gives the Aditya Birla Group a strong foothold in the Middle East.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development receives the 'Hello Hall of Fame' award for 'Exemplary Philanthropist of the year' from Worldwide Media Group's 'Hello' celebrity journal.

UltraTech Cement's 'Concern for Health' project is awarded the Asian Corporate Social Responsibility award by the Asian Institute of Management Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Hindalco and Birla White are declared winners at the Golden Peacock Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility 2010.

Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, receives the Global Golden Peacock Life Time Achievement Award for Community Development 2010 for 'Outstanding Contribution towards Community Development and Social Welfare'.

The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development teams up with Columbia University's research centre — the Columbia Global Centres' Earth Institute in Mumbai, to become its principal partner. The Earth Institute's goal is to help achieve sustainable development primarily by expanding people's understanding of the earth as one integrated system.

Hindalco wins the Amity International Business School's 'Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility'.

Awards

Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla wins the AIMA Managing India Award 2010 for 'Business Leader of the Year'. AIMA confers these awards to "exemplary leaders who have made a fundamental difference".

Indian Rayon, Veraval, (a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo) receives The Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for clean technologies by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Vikram Cement Works wins the National Award for Prevention of Pollution for 2009-2010 under the cement category for meeting pollution prevention goals and taking substantial and consistent steps for environmental improvement. The company also wins the Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology for 2009-2010 and the State Level Environment Award (Plant) for 2009-2010.

2009

Mergers and Acquisitions

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is conferred with The Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminence in Social Field by Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of State — Commerce and Industry, on 19 August. The award recognises Mrs. Birla's path-breaking work for the poor, more so in India's villages, carried out through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

Hindalco is accorded with the Reader's Digest Pegasus Star Award in recognition of the company's corporate leadership for social responsibility and sustainable development initiatives. Mrs. Rajashree Birla, who spearheads all the social projects of the Aditya Birla Group, receives the coveted award on behalf of Hindalco from Mr. Arun Jaitley, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, on 21 January in Delhi.

Awards

Idea Cellular wins the Economic Times' 'Emerging Company of the Year Award for 2009'.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Government of Thailand, confers the 'Best Labor Relations and Welfare Award, 2009' on Indo Thai Synthetic Company Limited.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, a part of ABFS, is named 'The Asset Management Company of the Year, India, by the Hong Kong based magazine The Asset in the country awards category of their Triple A Investment Performance Awards 2009.

CNBC TV18 Crisil recognises Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund as 'The Mutual Fund House of the Year' in 2008 and 2009 (for 2007 and 2008), creating history as the only fund house to have won this recognition for two consecutive years.

The Birla Sun Life Equity-Linked FMP wins the 'Best Local Currency Structured Product – India' at the Triple A Investment Performance Awards 2009.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund is named the best 'Onshore Fund House — India' by Hong Kong-based magazine The Asian Investor at the Investment Performance Awards 2009.

Vikram Cement and Aditya Cement win the 'Social Awareness Award 2008-09' from the Federation of Indian Mineral and Industries.

The State Level Environment Award for mines was won by Vikram Cement Works for the year 2008-09.

2008

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires a 100 per cent stake in Birla Jingwei Fibres Company Limited.

Aditya Birla Group acquires Spice Communications for US$1.8 billion.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is awarded with the 'Rotary International Polio Eradication Champion Award' by the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

2007

Mergers and Acquisitions

Hindalco acquires Atlanta-headquartered Novelis Inc (Novelis). With the addition of Novelis, Hindalco becomes the world's largest aluminium rolling company, one of the biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia and a leading copper producer in India.

CSR

Aditya Birla Group is honoured with India Today Group's Reader's Digest Gold award in recognition of the work that exemplifies the highest values of society. The award is received by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, at the Pegasus Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2007

Awards

Hindalco is awarded the CII-Sorabji Green Business Centre 'National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2007'.

Awards

Hindalco receives the India CFO Award 2004 for excellence in finance in a large corporate.

Indo Gulf wins the Deming Award.

2003

Business

Aditya Birla Group Board is reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla taking over as Chairman.

Mr. Kumar Managalam Birla was earlier chosen The Economic Times' Business Leader of the Year.

Aditya Birla Group is ranked 16th in India's first ever 'Great Places to Work' survey published in BusinessWorld magazine. The Group's joint venture company, Birla Sun Life Insurance, is ranked 9th in the same study.

Indian Rayon acquires TransWorks, a leading Indian ITES / BPO company.

The board of engineering major Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) decide to demerge its cement business into a separate cement company (CemCo). L&T will retain 20 per cent of its equity in the newly formed company and the balance will be distributed to its shareholders in proportion to their shareholding in L&T. Consequently, Grasim would acquire an 8.5 per cent equity stake from L&T and then make an open offer for 30 per cent of the equity of CemCo to take over the management control of the company.

Aditya Birla Group divests its entire 37.38 per cent equity stake in Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

Birla Copper acquires Nifty Copper Mines in Australia as part of a strategic plan to make the company an integrated copper producer, and source raw material for its copper smelter at Dahej, Gujarat.

CSR

2002

Aditya Birla Group receives the Corporate Citizen of the Year award from The Economic Times.

Grasim board approves an open offer for purchase up to 20 per cent of L&T’s equity in accordance with the provisions and guidelines issued by the Securities & Exchange Board of India Regulations, 1997.

Grasim increases its stake in L&T to 14.15 per cent (351.84 lakh shares).

Aditya Birla Group undertakes corporate restructuring of Hindalco and Indo Gulf. The fertiliser business of Indo Gulf is demerged into a separate company called Indo Gulf Fertilisers. Indo Gulf's copper business is merged with Hindalco, creating a non-ferrous metals powerhouse.

Grasim divests its Gwalior unit to Melodeon Exports Limited, and consolidates its textile operations at a single location in Bhiwani, MP, to manufacture both 'Grasim' and 'Graviera' brands.

PSI Data Systems acquires Birla Technologies Limited, bringing the Group IT services business under one umbrella.

Indal acquires a controlling stake in Anapurna Foils Limited (AFL) to augment its position in the foil and packaging sectors. Subsequently AFL is merged with Indal.

2001

Grasim acquires 2.50 crore shares – representing just over 10 per cent of the equity – in L&T from Reliance Industries Limited.

Birla Consultancy & Software Services is spun off into a separate entity called Birla Technologies Limited.

Indian Rayon acquires a stake in PSI Data Systems in one of the largest cash transactions in the Indian technology sector.

Grasim closes its pulp plant at Mavoor as part of its restructuring initiatives.

2000

Indian Rayon acquires Madura Garments and selected overseas brand rights, taking the Aditya Birla Group to the top of the league in the branded apparels sector.

The Group forays into e-business through a strategic alliance of its software arm — Birla Consultancy Software and Services (BCSS) with Lawson Software (USA).

'Gyanodaya', the Institute of Management Learning of the Aditya Birla Group, is inaugurated.

Hindalco acquires Indal. Indal’s board is reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla becoming its new Chairman. The Group holding goes up to 74.6 per cent and further increases to 96 per cent in FY03.

The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) grants registration in principle to Birla Sun Life Insurance Company.

Indian Rayon acquires major world rights for international apparel brands Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and Peter England.

Aditya Birla Group announces its intention to launch a 450 MW 'Green Power Project' in Karnataka.

The merger of Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular is completed.

1999

Aditya Birla Group inks a joint venture with Canada-based financial services major Sun Life as part of the overall restructuring of the Group's financial services business.

1998

Aditya Birla Group forms a 50:50 joint venture company with Canada-based Tembec Inc. called A.V. Cell Inc to supply pulp for the Group's VSF operations.

Grasim acquires Dharani Cement and Shree Digvijay Cement to consolidate the Group's leadership position in cement.

The cement businesses of Indian Rayon and Grasim are consolidated into a single division of Grasim – the biggest restructuring ever by any corporate entity in India.

The Group forays into copper with the commissioning of Indo Gulf's copper smelter – the largest of its kind in India.

1990

1989

1988

The government liberalises the petroleum industry. Aditya Birla Group enters into a joint venture with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited to set up a three million tonne refinery Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited in Mangalore, Karnataka.

1987

Indian Rayon is renamed Indian Rayon and Industries Limited (IRIL) to reflect its wide span of activities.

Thai Acrylic Fibre is incorporated to produce fibre and tow.

1986

Birla Growth Fund is set up to finance industrial equipment, plants and machinery, and consumer durables, as well as for stock market operations.

Milestones

Established in 1857 in the tiny village of Pilani, Rajasthan, the Aditya Birla Group took shape when Seth Shiv Narayan Birla ventured into cotton trading. Today, with operations across 35 countries, and revenues of US$44.3 billion, the Group is a leading player in aluminium, cement manufacturing, viscose staple fibre, chemicals, copper, insurance services, telecom, branded apparels, fertilisers, software, viscose staple yarn, carbon black and insulators. We trace the highlights of this remarkable journey, starting from the present:

Aditya Birla Nuvo merges with Grasim to create a large combination of manufacturing and service businesses commanding leadership positions across cement, financial services, telecom, textiles and chemicals sectors.

CSR

Birla Cellulose is ranked Number one globally, for its work on the conservation of ancient and endangered forests, by the NGO Canopy in its Hot Button Report.

Awards

2016

Business

Novelis was recently recognised among the best companies in Brazil by Época magazine. The special edition of the magazine, called Época Negócios 360°, ranked Novelis in the top five in four categories – HR practices, innovation, vision of the future and social responsibility.

Novelis was named a Top Supplier in 2015 by both Automotive News’ Global and North American lists for supplying flat-rolled aluminium sheets for multiple automotive applications, including vehicle structures and body panels.

AV Cell and AV Nackawic (Pulp & Fibre business) have emerged among the top 25 employers.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2015-2016 by the Ladies’ Wing of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber Awards

Awards

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla named the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA).

Indian Rayon, a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo, bagged the coveted Asian CSR Award in the category of poverty alleviation.

abof.com emerges as the winner in the top 5 impactful debut brands category.

abof.com wins Customer Intimacy and Service Excellence Company of the Year 2016 at the 10th Express Logistics & Supply Chain Awards.

Aditya Birla Retail Limited won the ‘hypermarket chain of the year’ award at the Images Retail Awards for the second year in a row.

Aditya Birla Financial Services Group (ABFSG) received a Certificate of Achievement from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the category of ‘Excellence in Developing Leaders of Tomorrow’.

Thai Rayon’s plant at Saraburi received an overwhelming applause from the Thailand Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for its outstanding performance in safety.

General Motors won the 2016 Altair Enlighten Award for Innovation in Automotive Vehicle Lightweighting for the Cadillac CT6. The automobile, which achieved 220lb in weight savings, is 62 per cent aluminium, and this has been supplied by Novelis North America and Novelis Asia.

Birla Carbon is credited for publishing ‘Asia’s Most Transparent Report’ and ‘Asia’s Best Materiality Report’. Birla Carbon also received commendation certificates for ‘Asia’s Best Supply Chain Reporting’, ‘Asia’s Best Community Reporting’ and ‘Asia’s Best Environment Reporting’ at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards, organised by CSRWorks Events, an arm of CSRWorks International.

Idea Cellular wins three awards at the Effies — 2 gold and a silver — Gold in the Services category (Telecom) for 'No Ullu Banaoing', Gold For Best Ongoing Campaign – 'An Idea can change your life' and Silver in the category – Integrated Advertising Campaign (for a 360 approach on the campaign across all media). It also won ET Telecom Award for the Best Marketing Campaign of the year for “No Ullu Banaoing”.

Idea Cellular wins award in 'Analytics' category for the implementation of end-to-end Campaign Management solution at Business Technology IT Awards.

Aditya Birla Financial Services wins CIO Impact Award 2015 from Frost & Sullivan USA and Best in Class – Cloud Computing category for 2015; wins two Midas Awards 2014; Silver at Emvies from the Advertising Club, India; three Bronze medals at Goafest Creative & Media Abby Awards; two Bronze and one Silver at DMAi Award and Silver for its marketing campaign at Effies.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund wins Morningstar Award 2015 for the ‘Best Fund House – Debt' and 'Best Intermediate Bond Fund'; the Asset Management – House of the Year at Money Today, FPCIL Awards.

2014

Business

Aditya Birla Group is ranked number 1 in the Nielsen Corporate Image Monitor 2013-14, for the second year in a row, across the six pillars of corporate performance – products and services, vision and leadership, workplace environment, financial performance, operating style and social responsibility.

Mergers and Acquisitions

The Board of Directors of UltraTech Cement, the largest cement company in India, approves the acquisition of cement units of Jaiprakash Associates Limited in Madhya Pradesh in December. The enterprise value of this acquisition was agreed at Rs.5,400 crore.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla receives the 'Exceptional Leader – Social and Rural Development' award from the ASSOCHAM Ladies League

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team at Grasim Industries Limited (Grasim), a global leader in viscose staple fibre manufacturing, wins the first 'CSR Activist of the Year Award' instituted by the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries for its work in uplifting the marginalised.

Vikram Woollens, a unit of Grasim Industries Limited, is named the overall winner at the 'Amity CSR Conclave 2013'.

Novelis, a leading producer of rolled aluminium, is honoured with Industry Leadership award - Aluminum at Platts Global Metals Awards 2014. The award recognises Novelis' decisive action to transform its business, demonstrated leadership as a first-mover and willingness to take risks by making fundamental changes in the way it operates.

Dr. Santrupt Misra is awarded 'Global Leader of the Year' at the CEO India awards 2014.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) bestows the 'AMCHAM Award' on the Aditya Birla Knowledge Centre, the first centre of its kind set up by the Group in South East Asia to provide community service through vocational training.

Novelis is awarded the 'Climate Leadership Award' by the US Environmental Protection Agency for exemplary leadership in reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change.

Aditya Birla Financial Services (ABFS), one of India’s reputed non-banking financial companies, is given the 'Excellence Award' by the Institute of Internal Auditors India – Bombay Chapter, for use of the most innovative processes in conducting branch internal audit.

Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company is recognised as the 'Most Admired AMC of the Year' in the BFSI Category by Star of India Awards.

ABFS wins the 'Best Marketing Campaign Birla Sun Life Insurance' at the Effies, the Indian chapter of Effies International, which recognises marketing campaigns for their effectiveness in the market.

ABFS wins four Gold Midas awards between Birla Sun Life Insurance, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund and Aditya Birla Money at the Midas Awards, New York, the only international platform that recognises excellence in financial advertising and marketing. The company's insurance business bags the Grand Midas at the event.

more.Megastore is chosen as the winner under the 'Food & Grocery Retailer' category - 'Images Most Admired Food & Grocery Retailer of the Year, Large Format' at the 7th edition of the Coca Cola Golden Spoon Awards 2014.

2013

Business

Aditya Birla Group tops Nielsen's Corporate Image Monitor 2012-13 that measures the reputation of 40 leading corporates in the country across sectors. The Group emerged 'Best in Class' across the six pillars of corporate image comprising product and service quality, vision and leadership, workplace management, financial performance, operating style and social responsibility.

The Government of India releases a commemorative postage stamp honouring the visionary Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla as India's 'First Global Industrialist'. The special stamp is released by the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 14th January.

The chlor-alkali and phosphoric acid divisions of Solaris Chemtech Industries are acquired by the Aditya Birla Group through ABCIL in May. The acquisition makes ABCIL the largest producer of chlor-alkali in India.

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is conferred with the Giants International 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in April.

Awards

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is chosen 'Business Leader of the Year' at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2012-13, becoming, in the process, the first corporate leader to win the award twice in 10 years. His previous win was in 2003.

Aditya Birla Nuvo's Indo Gulf wins the Platinum Award for Excellence in Manufacturing Processes in the Medium Business Sector at the Economic Times India Manufacturing Excellence Awards (IMEA).

UltraTech Cement wins three awards at the Economic Times India Manufacturing Excellence Awards (IMEA) — Vikram Cement Works (Khor) won the Gold award; Rawan Cement Works (Raipur) bagged the Gold Certificate of Merit; and Awarpur Cement Works (Maharashtra) received the Silver Certificate of Merit.

ABFS receives the Bronze award at the International ECHO Awards 2012 in Las Vegas – equivalent to the Oscars of Direct Marketing – and a Gold, Silver and Merit certificate at the Midas Awards 2012, New York. The Midas Awards honours the world's best financial marketing and advertising campaigns. The company also wins a Bronze at Effie 2012 for its effective marketing campaign. ABFS wins the Silver award at the Emvies 2012. The Emvies honour measurable and significant contributions in the field of Indian media.

For the second year in a row, Idea wins the 'The Best Brand Campaign' award at the World Communications Awards 2012 in London for its 'Population Control' (3G pe busy) campaign. The same campaign wins Gold at APPIES 2012 in Singapore.

The mobile number portability campaign - No Idea, Get Idea - wins the award for 'Excellence in Marketing' at the Economic Times Telecom Awards 2012.

Aditya Birla Minacs wins Bronze in the 'Most Customer Friendly Company of the Year' category at the Best in Biz awards from among more than 400 companies from nearly every major industry.

For the second time in a row, Aditya Birla Minacs' finance and accounting team wins the Asian Leadership Award for 'Quality and Operations Excellence' for its innovative Q-Score Model.

'Asian Centre Awards 2012 – Awards for Corporate Governance, Sustainability & Leadership' commends the Aditya Birla Group as the 'Company with Best CSR and Sustainability Practices'.

2012

Business

Aditya Birla Group makes a financial investment of 27.5 per cent in Living Media India Limited (India Today Group) through a private investment company in May.

Aditya Birla Group is at the top of the league among 'most loved companies' at the 11th edition of Business Today's Best Companies survey. The survey, conducted online by Indicus Analytics from 6 September to 14 November, 2011, drew 6,176 responses from 323 cities. More than 80 per cent of the respondents were between 24 and 35 years of age.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires Terrace Bay Pulp Mill in North Western Ontario in July 2012. Terrace Bay is considered an anchor mill due to its location and its significant consumption of residual chips produced by regional sawmills.

Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited (ABNL), largest manufacturer of linen fabric in India, acquires Future Group's Pantaloon format, a part of Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited (PRIL). The acquisition is in line with the Group's strategic intent to create the largest integrated branded fashion player in the country.

Awards

Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is honoured with the 'NASSCOM Global Business Leader Award, 2012' at the NASSCOM India-Global Leadership Forum held in Mumbai.

The Asian Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability bestowed the 'Transformational Leader Award' upon Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla in recognition of his extraordinary contribution towards setting up corporate governance standards in India, for authoring the first ever SEBI-initiated Corporate Governance Report in India and for benchmarkable governance standards in the Aditya Birla Group companies.

Aditya Birla Group wins the Economic Times Corporate Citizen Award — 2011-12. The award honours the contribution to public good through commitment to critical social causes that influence the lives of thousands of needy Indians. The Group had won this coveted award for the first time in 2002.

Novelis is accorded with the American Metal Market Environmental Responsibility and Stewardship Award 2012; three European Aluminium Awards for Innovation at the world's biggest Aluminium Trade Show; a Jury Prize for the Titanic Belfast aluminium facade panels; and a Special Prize, Surface Treatment for its anti-graffiti aluminium surface – Clearky 105.

The Novelis Global Automotive team receives a Special Prize, rolling, for its three-piece tailored welded blank for Mercedes SL.

The Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital is received recognition for 'Performance/Excellence Trophy for its Compassionate Quality Healthcare' by the Indian Merchant Chambers' Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Awards Committee in Mumbai, India.

Birla White, a division of UltraTech Cement – the largest cement company in India, is presented with the ASSOCHAM CSR Excellence Award.

CNBC TV18, one of the top business TV Channels in India, chooses the deal between the Aditya Birla Group and Columbian Chemicals as the 'Best deal in the M&A category'.

2011

Business

Aditya Birla Group is ranked No.4 in the list of global top companies for leaders and No.1 in Asia Pacific for 2011 in a study conducted by Aon Hewitt, Fortune magazine and RBL, a strategic HR and leadership advisory firm.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires Domsjö Fabriker, a leading Swedish speciality pulp and biorefinery company. Domsjö, with its cutting-edge technology and production process coupled with a state-of-the-art biorefinery, adds significant value to the Group's pulp and fibre operations.

ABCIL acquires the Chloro Chemicals Division (CCD) of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Limited in April. The acquisition strengthens Aditya Birla Group's position as the country's largest producer of chlor-alkali.

CSR

The Government of India bestowed the Padma Bhushan Award on Mrs. Rajashree Birla for her exemplary contribution in the area of social work. The Padma Bhushan is among the highest civilian awards in India and was bestowed upon Mrs. Birla at a special ceremony on 1 April.

The 'Corporate Citizen of the Year' award is presented to the Aditya Birla Group by the Public Relations Council of India for "its work amidst the rural poor in the country and for setting a fine example for other corporates". Mrs. Rajashree Birla receives the award from Mr. H. K. Dua, Member of Parliament and one of the most distinguished editors of the country.

2010

Business

Mergers and Acquisitions

UltraTech Cement acquires a majority stake and management control in Dubai-based Star Cement Company, LLC (Star Cement). Star Cement owns cement plants in UAE, Bahrain and Bangladesh with a total capacity of three million tonnes annually. This acquisition gives the Aditya Birla Group a strong foothold in the Middle East.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development receives the 'Hello Hall of Fame' award for 'Exemplary Philanthropist of the year' from Worldwide Media Group's 'Hello' celebrity journal.

UltraTech Cement's 'Concern for Health' project is awarded the Asian Corporate Social Responsibility award by the Asian Institute of Management Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Hindalco and Birla White are declared winners at the Golden Peacock Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility 2010.

Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, receives the Global Golden Peacock Life Time Achievement Award for Community Development 2010 for 'Outstanding Contribution towards Community Development and Social Welfare'.

The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development teams up with Columbia University's research centre — the Columbia Global Centres' Earth Institute in Mumbai, to become its principal partner. The Earth Institute's goal is to help achieve sustainable development primarily by expanding people's understanding of the earth as one integrated system.

Hindalco wins the Amity International Business School's 'Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility'.

Awards

Aditya Birla Group Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla wins the AIMA Managing India Award 2010 for 'Business Leader of the Year'. AIMA confers these awards to "exemplary leaders who have made a fundamental difference".

Indian Rayon, Veraval, (a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo) receives The Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for clean technologies by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Vikram Cement Works wins the National Award for Prevention of Pollution for 2009-2010 under the cement category for meeting pollution prevention goals and taking substantial and consistent steps for environmental improvement. The company also wins the Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology for 2009-2010 and the State Level Environment Award (Plant) for 2009-2010.

2009

Mergers and Acquisitions

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is conferred with The Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminence in Social Field by Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of State — Commerce and Industry, on 19 August. The award recognises Mrs. Birla's path-breaking work for the poor, more so in India's villages, carried out through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

Hindalco is accorded with the Reader's Digest Pegasus Star Award in recognition of the company's corporate leadership for social responsibility and sustainable development initiatives. Mrs. Rajashree Birla, who spearheads all the social projects of the Aditya Birla Group, receives the coveted award on behalf of Hindalco from Mr. Arun Jaitley, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, on 21 January in Delhi.

Awards

Idea Cellular wins the Economic Times' 'Emerging Company of the Year Award for 2009'.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Government of Thailand, confers the 'Best Labor Relations and Welfare Award, 2009' on Indo Thai Synthetic Company Limited.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, a part of ABFS, is named 'The Asset Management Company of the Year, India, by the Hong Kong based magazine The Asset in the country awards category of their Triple A Investment Performance Awards 2009.

CNBC TV18 Crisil recognises Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund as 'The Mutual Fund House of the Year' in 2008 and 2009 (for 2007 and 2008), creating history as the only fund house to have won this recognition for two consecutive years.

The Birla Sun Life Equity-Linked FMP wins the 'Best Local Currency Structured Product – India' at the Triple A Investment Performance Awards 2009.

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund is named the best 'Onshore Fund House — India' by Hong Kong-based magazine The Asian Investor at the Investment Performance Awards 2009.

Vikram Cement and Aditya Cement win the 'Social Awareness Award 2008-09' from the Federation of Indian Mineral and Industries.

The State Level Environment Award for mines was won by Vikram Cement Works for the year 2008-09.

2008

Mergers and Acquisitions

Aditya Birla Group acquires a 100 per cent stake in Birla Jingwei Fibres Company Limited.

Aditya Birla Group acquires Spice Communications for US$1.8 billion.

CSR

Mrs. Rajashree Birla is awarded with the 'Rotary International Polio Eradication Champion Award' by the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

2007

Mergers and Acquisitions

Hindalco acquires Atlanta-headquartered Novelis Inc (Novelis). With the addition of Novelis, Hindalco becomes the world's largest aluminium rolling company, one of the biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia and a leading copper producer in India.

CSR

Aditya Birla Group is honoured with India Today Group's Reader's Digest Gold award in recognition of the work that exemplifies the highest values of society. The award is received by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, at the Pegasus Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2007

Awards

Hindalco is awarded the CII-Sorabji Green Business Centre 'National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2007'.

Awards

Hindalco receives the India CFO Award 2004 for excellence in finance in a large corporate.

Indo Gulf wins the Deming Award.

2003

Business

Aditya Birla Group Board is reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla taking over as Chairman.

Mr. Kumar Managalam Birla was earlier chosen The Economic Times' Business Leader of the Year.

Aditya Birla Group is ranked 16th in India's first ever 'Great Places to Work' survey published in BusinessWorld magazine. The Group's joint venture company, Birla Sun Life Insurance, is ranked 9th in the same study.

Indian Rayon acquires TransWorks, a leading Indian ITES / BPO company.

The board of engineering major Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) decide to demerge its cement business into a separate cement company (CemCo). L&T will retain 20 per cent of its equity in the newly formed company and the balance will be distributed to its shareholders in proportion to their shareholding in L&T. Consequently, Grasim would acquire an 8.5 per cent equity stake from L&T and then make an open offer for 30 per cent of the equity of CemCo to take over the management control of the company.

Aditya Birla Group divests its entire 37.38 per cent equity stake in Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

Birla Copper acquires Nifty Copper Mines in Australia as part of a strategic plan to make the company an integrated copper producer, and source raw material for its copper smelter at Dahej, Gujarat.

CSR

2002

Aditya Birla Group receives the Corporate Citizen of the Year award from The Economic Times.

Grasim board approves an open offer for purchase up to 20 per cent of L&T’s equity in accordance with the provisions and guidelines issued by the Securities & Exchange Board of India Regulations, 1997.

Grasim increases its stake in L&T to 14.15 per cent (351.84 lakh shares).

Aditya Birla Group undertakes corporate restructuring of Hindalco and Indo Gulf. The fertiliser business of Indo Gulf is demerged into a separate company called Indo Gulf Fertilisers. Indo Gulf's copper business is merged with Hindalco, creating a non-ferrous metals powerhouse.

Grasim divests its Gwalior unit to Melodeon Exports Limited, and consolidates its textile operations at a single location in Bhiwani, MP, to manufacture both 'Grasim' and 'Graviera' brands.

PSI Data Systems acquires Birla Technologies Limited, bringing the Group IT services business under one umbrella.

Indal acquires a controlling stake in Anapurna Foils Limited (AFL) to augment its position in the foil and packaging sectors. Subsequently AFL is merged with Indal.

2001

Grasim acquires 2.50 crore shares – representing just over 10 per cent of the equity – in L&T from Reliance Industries Limited.

Birla Consultancy & Software Services is spun off into a separate entity called Birla Technologies Limited.

Indian Rayon acquires a stake in PSI Data Systems in one of the largest cash transactions in the Indian technology sector.

Grasim closes its pulp plant at Mavoor as part of its restructuring initiatives.

2000

Indian Rayon acquires Madura Garments and selected overseas brand rights, taking the Aditya Birla Group to the top of the league in the branded apparels sector.

The Group forays into e-business through a strategic alliance of its software arm — Birla Consultancy Software and Services (BCSS) with Lawson Software (USA).

'Gyanodaya', the Institute of Management Learning of the Aditya Birla Group, is inaugurated.

Hindalco acquires Indal. Indal’s board is reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla becoming its new Chairman. The Group holding goes up to 74.6 per cent and further increases to 96 per cent in FY03.

The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) grants registration in principle to Birla Sun Life Insurance Company.

Indian Rayon acquires major world rights for international apparel brands Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and Peter England.

Aditya Birla Group announces its intention to launch a 450 MW 'Green Power Project' in Karnataka.

The merger of Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular is completed.

1999

Aditya Birla Group inks a joint venture with Canada-based financial services major Sun Life as part of the overall restructuring of the Group's financial services business.

1998

Aditya Birla Group forms a 50:50 joint venture company with Canada-based Tembec Inc. called A.V. Cell Inc to supply pulp for the Group's VSF operations.

Grasim acquires Dharani Cement and Shree Digvijay Cement to consolidate the Group's leadership position in cement.

The cement businesses of Indian Rayon and Grasim are consolidated into a single division of Grasim – the biggest restructuring ever by any corporate entity in India.

The Group forays into copper with the commissioning of Indo Gulf's copper smelter – the largest of its kind in India.

1990

1989

1988

The government liberalises the petroleum industry. Aditya Birla Group enters into a joint venture with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited to set up a three million tonne refinery Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited in Mangalore, Karnataka.

1987

Indian Rayon is renamed Indian Rayon and Industries Limited (IRIL) to reflect its wide span of activities.

Thai Acrylic Fibre is incorporated to produce fibre and tow.

1986

Birla Growth Fund is set up to finance industrial equipment, plants and machinery, and consumer durables, as well as for stock market operations.